Overview

• Karol Nawrocki was sworn in on August 6 before a joint session of parliament in Warsaw, marking the start of his five-year term succeeding Andrzej Duda
• He holds constitutional veto rights over legislation, authority to propose bills and serves as commander-in-chief with influence over foreign and defense policy
• Analysts anticipate tense cohabitation with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU coalition as the president pursues a nationalist agenda
• Nawrocki has vowed to block any transfer of competences to EU institutions and to oppose Ukraine’s accession to NATO under his “Poland First” platform
• In a conciliatory gesture last week, he spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed gratitude for assurances of continued support